Attached filler cap



p zs, 19 5. R E ARSQN 2,385,364

. ATTACHED FILLER CAP Filed NOV. 18, 1942 AZZorn/eys Patented Sept. 25, 1945 UNITED STATES 4 PATENT OFFICE ATTACHED FILLER CAP Robert E. Larson, St. Paul, Minn.

Application November 18, 1942,,Serial No. 466,017

4 Claims.

My invention provides an improved cap or cover for filler tubes or the like and, generally stated, consists of the novel devices, combinations of devices, and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

The term filler tubes is herein used in a broad or liberal sense and, for example, would include the filler tube or necks of gasoline tanks such as used in motor propelled vehicles and the combined filler and breather tubes such as used in connection with the crank-shaft casings of internal combustion engines. However, the invention is applicable to any and all tubular structures wherein there is desired a cap that is displaceable from operative position but attached thereto so that it can not be misplaced.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing the filler tube with an expanded head or intake end and with the cap or cover applied thereto in closing position;

Fig, 2 is a vertical section taken approximately on the line 2-2 of Fig. l, th cap being addition" ally shown by dotted lines in an open position; and

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the irregular line 3 -3 of Fig. l.

The filler tube 5 is shown as provided with an enlarged or diametrically expanded head 6, the flange of the latter being inturned or folded at I to afford a good seat for the cap. This expanded or enlarged head 6 affords sort of a funnel-shaped end to the tube 5. 'I'he cap or cover 8 is shown as provided with a channel-shaped rim 9 to embrace and receive the flanged edge 1 of the enlarged head 6. Said parts 5, 6, and I are preferably of thin stamped or spun sheet metal. To form a tight joint between the head 6 and cap, a pliable gasket I is shown as placed in the channel 9 for direct contact with the flanged edge "I.

In this invention I employ a sear spring of the self-closing or V-shaped tension type; and preferably this V-shaped spring H is of the duplex type but made from a single piece of spring wire. This spring is bent to form a double or U-shaped main arm l2 and anchoring arms IS. The arms l2 and I3 are connected by coiled intermediate portions I4 that form the elbows of said arms. The ends of the anchoring arms l3 are shown as provided with outturned trunnion-like ends l that are pivoted to the ears of an anchoring bracket or duplex lug it that is rigidly secured to the interior of one side of the expanded head 6 while the U-shaped arm I2 is extended through and pivoted in an anchoring lug l1 rigidly secured to the central portion of the cap 8. At a point diametrically opposite to the hinge afforded by the pivotal connection between thetrunnions I 5 and anchoring bracket t8, the cap 8 is provided with a projecting ear or finger piece l8.

It is important to note that the spacing between the pivot or-hinge points I16 and 11, when the cap 8 is in a closed position, is greater than the normal spacing between the free pivoted ends of the arm I2 and I3 of the spring, so that the V-shaped spring is forced open to a considerable extent against its own yielding tension when the cap is in a closed position on the tube. Also important to note is the fact that the lowerarm l3 of the V-shaped spring (meaning that portion of the spring between pivot point 16 and coil I4) is longer than the spacing between the pivot point I6 and the free edge of expanded portion of the filler tube directly above the pivot point l6, which permits the cap to be moved into the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2 without interference from the coiled intermediate portion ll of the spring.

With the above described arrangement, when the cap is applied in closing position, as shown in the drawing, the V-shaped spring ll will exert a downward pull on the cap which will keep the same tightly seated, but when the finger piece I is engaged and the cap is turned upward and outward to an approximately vertical position, the closing force of the spring will exert a lateral or substantially horizontal pressure that will hold the cap securely but yieldingly seated against one side of the expanded head or receiving end of the filler tube, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2. Of course, when the cap is moved from closed to open position, or vice versa, the tension of the spring will be carried past a neutral point. However, the spring performs the functions above noted, to wit: of holding the. cap either in closed or extreme open position according to the position in which it is set and aflords a means for keeping the cap always attached to the filler tube, so that it can not be misplaced or lost.

Obviously, the above described movements of the cap may be very quickly and easily performed. The duplex spring arrangement described, in addition to performing the functions stated, gives lateral stability to the movements ofthe cap while being moved from the one position to the other.

A preferred commercial form of the device has been described but it will be understood that alterations in the detail and arrangement thereof may be made within the scope of the invention herein disclosed and claimed.-

What I claim is:

1. The combination with a filler tube and a cap therefor, said cap having a hinge ing at its central portion'andsaid tube at one side is formed with spaced hingexlugs, of a duplex v-shaped spring formed from a single piece of wire, the upper arms of said spring being connected at their ends and; the connecting part between said armsbeing extended through andrpivoted in the hinge ing on said cap, and the lower arms of which spring being provided with laterally turned ends pivoted in the spaced lugs on said tube.

2. The combination with a filler tube and a cap closing the upper end thereof, of a .V -shaped spring disposed within the filler tube and comprising upper and lower arms and a connecting resilient elbow portion, the free end of the lower arm of said. spring being pivoted to the side of the filler tube at a point spaced from the cap and the upper. edge of the tube, and the free end of the upper arm of said spring being pivoted to the inner surface of the central portion of the cap, the lower arm of said V-shaped spring being of greater length than the distance between the pivot point of the lower springarm and the upper edge of the tube, said V-shaped spring opening toward the side to which the lower arm is pivoted and being under tension and exerting an inward pressure on the cap when the cap is in its tube closing position.

3. The structure defined in claim 2 in which the spring arms are connected by an integrally formed spring coil forming an elbow of the spring and in which the lower arm of the spring is of suflicient length to permit free movement of the elbow-forming coil over the free edge of the tube.

4. The combination with a filler tube and a cap positioned on and closing the upper end thereof, of a spring disposed within the filler tube and comprising a resilient elbow portion and projecting upper and lower arms connected by said elbow portion, the free end of the lower arm of said spring being pivoted to the side of the filler tube at a point spaced from the cap and the upper edge of the tube, and the free end of the upper arm of said spring being pivoted to the inner surface of the central portion of the cap, the lower arm of said spring being of greater length than the distance between the pivot point of the lower arm and the upper edge of the tube, said spring opening toward the side to which the lower arm is pivoted and being under tension and exerting an inward pressure on the cap when the cap is in a tube closing position.

ROBERT E. LARSON. 

